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While consuming sugar-sweetened beverages like as sodas, fruit punch, and lemonade at home or outside is common, doctors warned on Monday that they can cause considerable harm to one’s health, ranging from dental and kidney infections to heart disease. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are drinks with added sugar or other sweeteners such high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), sucrose, or fruit juice concentrates. These include non-diet sodas, flavoured juice, sports or energy drinks, sweetened tea, and coffee, among others.
Health Risks of Sugar-Sweetened Drinks
“These sweeteners are a major concern that can cause multiple health complications like weight gain, obesity, and diabetes. Along with this, it also leads to a long-lasting impact on the heart, and kidney and also results in dental complications,” Dr. Manish Mittal, Consultant Physician, Bhailal Amin General Hospital, Vadodara, told IANS. Additives like fructose, high fructose corn, and brown sugar “increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease”, said Dr Narendra Singhla, Lead Consultant – Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi.
“Consuming high amounts of added sugars can lead to weight gain, inflammation, and insulin resistance. To prevent these risks, opt for unsweetened drinks, and limit sugary beverage intake to less than 10 per cent of daily calorie needs,” he added.
A recent study conducted by experts at Harvard University in the United States found that increased intake of sugar-sweetened beverages may increase the incidence and death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly among diabetics.
The study, published in the BMJ, found that each additional daily serving of sugar-sweetened beverages was related with an 8% increase in all-cause death. “Consumption of these sugar-sweetened beverages over time may have an impact on cardiovascular health. People with pre-existing diseases such as diabetes and hypertension would be more affected if they consume these drinks on a daily basis. If a person currently has diabetes and uses artificial sweeteners, their diabetes will naturally worsen, putting them at danger twice,” Mittal explained.
“Even consuming sugar-free supplements are equally detrimental and have the same side-effects along with impacting gut health,” according to a specialist. Singhla advised choosing natural sources of sweetness, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as being “mindful of hidden sugars in processed foods”. The experts also advocated for a balanced diet and regular physical activity to improve health.
Source:In
